Impulse, page 12
part #12 of First Colony Series
Shuno dismissed the others and watched them return to their original locations. He then walked back toward Connor.
“I will listen to what you’ve learned, and in return, you will answer my questions.”
“I’ll answer what I can,” Connor replied. He turned toward the rover and gestured for the others to come out.
Lenora exited first, followed by Noah, Kara, and Sepal. The students remained inside the vehicle.
“This is Lenora. She’s an archeologist who’s been studying your civilization for over twenty years,” Connor said. He wouldn’t disclose that Lenora was his wife. They didn’t need any more information than what was absolutely necessary. “This is Sepal, a Mekaal historian who is working with us to find answers.”
Shuno’s gaze lingered on Sepal for a few seconds in mild disapproval.
Lenora cleared her throat. “Thank you for agreeing to speak with us,” she said and told him about the Bhatdin. “Their existence is suspected on multiple worlds accessed through the arch gateways.”
Shuno listened intently. “We know of the gateways, but not of any of the Ovarrow on other worlds. The gateways were of Krake design. We didn’t use them.”
“That isn’t true,” Connor said. “The first gateway we encountered was among the ruins of one of your cities. We’ve found others elsewhere. They couldn’t all have been controlled by the Krake.”
Shuno’s face twisted between a sneer and a thoughtful frown. “Then whoever used them are unknown to me.”
“Yes, but do you know anything about the Bhatdin?”
“That name is unknown to me.”
“What about this logo?” Lenora asked and used her wrist computer’s holoscreen to show them what they’d found.
Shuno peered at the logo, and Connor thought he recognized it. “Where did you find this?”
Lenora opened another holoscreen, which appeared beside the one with the logo. “It was in the ruins of a factory not far from here. I can share the location and you can go there if you want, but the consoles have deteriorated and they don’t have any power.”
Shuno considered this for a few moments. “How were you able to extract this information?”
“We brought portable power cores designed to be used with your systems and technology. We were then able to extract the data from those consoles.”
“How much of the data was intact? Our experience is such that very little is accessible.”
“We’ve observed the same, but we’re able to put the pieces together and run our own analysis to rebuild what’s missing. It’s not perfect, but it helps. We’ve found intact data cores at other sites, which also helps fill in the gaps,” Lenora replied.
“The data is reliable,” Sepal said. “We’ve learned much from what they’ve discovered. We’d be willing to share what we’ve learned with you.”
Shuno’s gaze narrowed suspiciously. “To what end? Why would you do this?”
“Knowledge of our history is meant to be shared. With it, we can come to a common understanding of what transpired, but this idea of the Bhatdin might answer some of the discrepancies in our understanding of the wars before the great freeze. There are more answers to be found.”
Shuno frowned in thought. The Konus had been the first to emerge from stasis over forty years ago, and they’d kept their presence a secret. They were focused on rebuilding their society, but no matter what Shuno claimed, Connor had witnessed a thirst for knowledge to help them make sense of what had happened to them. And it wasn’t just the Konus and the Mekaal. He’d witnessed the same longing on other planets with other Ovarrow. The Krake had divided them and set factions of Ovarrow against each other through a brutal form of scientific study. It was highly manipulative and would have lasting consequences for generations to come.
“I don’t know what that symbol means. It looks similar to others I’ve seen, but I’ve never seen this exact one,” Shuno said.
Lenora nodded once. “Do you know of anyone who might recognize it? We’re searching for it at other sites. We want to find out all we can about the Bhatdin.”
“I must confer with my superiors. I can try to contact them via comms, but we might be too far away to get a reliable signal,” Shuno said.
“We can help with that,” Connor said. “There’s a colonial comlink available at Chenesh. You could use that.”
“That is unacceptable since the communications would be monitored by you,” Shuno replied.
Lenora looked at Connor. She wanted him to think of a solution that would work.
“What if we amplified the signal from your own comms device and had it broadcasted from ours? That would simply make the signal more powerful so you could reach the people you need to,” Connor offered.
Shuno thought about it for almost a minute. “I will contact Chenesh this way, but Warlord Tritix might command that the link be severed.”
“I understand. We’ll wait here for your reply. Give us a few minutes to set things up on our end and then you’ll see a new communications node available to you. You can initiate contact then,” Connor said.
“Understood,” Shuno replied.
The Konus officer turned around and headed back to their camp.
Noah joined Connor and Lenora. “To be honest, I didn’t think they’d help.”
“They haven’t yet,” Connor replied. He looked at his wife. “But it’s more than I thought they’d do.”
“Don’t do that,” Lenora replied. “Don’t minimize what you did. He wouldn’t have even spoken to me if it weren’t for you and Urret.”
Shuno left a squad of soldiers outside their camp, presumably to keep an eye on them.
“They’ll help if it’s important to them,” Connor said.
“Or they’re trying to work some other kind of angle,” Diaz added.
“He’s right. There has to be something in it for them.”
Lenora looked at the Konus camp for a few seconds. “I told them we’d share what we learned with them. What else do they want?”
Diaz grinned a little.
“What?” Lenora asked and looked at Connor.
“If they know about the Bhatdin or that logo, they’ll seek to negotiate for more,” Connor said.
“Always pressing for an advantage,” she said and shrugged. “They can ask.”
Connor smiled. “That’s right; they can ask. The question becomes how much we’re willing to give.”
“Maybe they’ll be more cooperative than that.”
Connor wasn’t convinced but said, “We’ll find out.”
Specialist Weps and Sergeant Tui walked over to them.
“General, they’ve initiated comms to Chenesh.”
“Thank you, Specialist.”
Diaz glanced toward Connor. “Can you monitor what they’re saying?”
“Are you kidding? Decipher a signal within another signal? No way. No how,” Connor replied and nodded his head.
Diaz frowned and then inclined his chin in understanding.
They could decipher Konus communications, but if they spoke in code, it would be more difficult to make sense of what they recorded. He’d ask Urret to review it later.
About an hour had passed before Shuno returned from camp.
“I’ve spoken with Warlord Tritix,” Shuno said.
Connor was impressed. Warlord Tritix was the leader of the Konus military. The fact that Shuno’s report had gone up the chain of command was a good sign that the Konus were taking this seriously. Connor also suspected that his presence helped Shuno’s report get priority treatment.
“I transmitted the data you shared, and it was reviewed by a member of our archivist team,” Shuno continued. “Preliminary searching revealed that the Bhatdin’s symbol does exist, and we have a list of associated locations.”
“That fast?” Diaz asked.
Lenora nodded. “Don’t forget, the Ovarrow’s written language is more symbolic than ours.”
“That doesn’t explain anything.”
“Subtle variants in the Ovarrow language can change the entire meaning of their statements,” Lenora said. “It would be easy for them to construct a query to search for the Bhatdin symbol because their language is based off imagery and symbols. They can pack more meaning into a single image.”
“If you say so,” Diaz replied.
Connor looked a Shuno. “Will you share those locations with us?”
“Only if certain concessions are granted.”
Here it comes, Connor thought. “What are they?”
“Warlord Tritix wants you to allow us to investigate these locations with you.”
Connor glanced at the Konus soldiers outside the camp.
“All of us,” Shuno said.
Connor felt the others looking at him, but he focused on Shuno. Now the negotiations would begin.
13
Isaac splashed cold water on his face, using the shock of the cold to help him wake up. He put some soap on his hands and washed his face and neck. That helped him wake up a little, too, but what he really needed was more sleep. He’d burned the midnight oil last night… several nights… and it was starting to catch up with him.
Julian walked into the bathroom and eyed him for a moment before he grunted. “Rough night?”
Isaac puffed out a breath and glowered at him briefly. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck from side to side, feeling a few pops that drew forth a sigh.
“Just studying,” he said and picked up his toothbrush to begin brushing his teeth.
Julian set his kit on the sink and pulled out his razor for shaving. He squirted some shaving cream into his hand and rubbed the lather onto his face. “You know what I heard about the other day? The CDF has implants available to reduce the number of hours we need to sleep.”
Isaac spat into the sink and swished some water in his mouth. He yawned. “I could use those.”
Julian made a few calculated swipes with his razor and paused to nod. “Right. That would be great. The only issue is that prolonged use can lead to anxiety.”
Isaac grabbed a towel and dried his face. “Doesn’t sound so bad.”
Julian chuckled. “I was kidding. It’s not worth it. Just get some more sleep instead of studying.”
Isaac shook his head. “I can’t. I have some catching up to do. I’ll be taking the placement tests next week.”
Curtis walked into the communal bathroom and glanced at Isaac, then rolled his eyes. “Give it up. You’re never getting into Sierra’s medical program.”
After months of living together in a dormitory at the colonial embassy in Shetrian, he’d gotten used to Curtis’s attitude. They’d never be friends, and a few scuffles had instilled a smidgeon of cooperation, at least in front of other people. Curtis loved to point out everything Isaac did wrong, but that didn’t happen as much as when they’d first come here.
“Afraid I’ll take your spot?” Isaac asked.
“You’d have to get in first, which you probably won’t.”
“Curtis,” Julian said, annoyed, “it’s too early in the morning for this crap. Give it a rest.”
Curtis shrugged, but he still smirked with knowledge that only he was privy to.
“I’ll get in,” Isaac said and began packing up his toiletries.
“Sure, you will,” Curtis replied.
Julian growled. He was a good deal shorter than the rest of them, but he more than made up for it with his attitude. “I’m serious. It’s too damn early in the morning for the two of you to get into it. I don’t want to have to do something we’ll all regret.”
Curtis’s gaze slid toward Julian. “Don’t hold back because of me.”
Isaac stepped toward him. “What is it with you, Palmer? Can’t go through the day without proving what an asshole you are?”
Curtis sniggered, looking pleased, and held up his hand in a placating gesture. He turned toward the mirror and began running his fingers through his hair. “Why’d you wait so long to take the placement tests anyway?”
Julian arched an eyebrow toward Isaac. “That’s a good question.”
Isaac shrugged. “I hadn’t decided to take them until I was here.”
Curtis grinned. “After you found out Ella was going, you mean.”
“She might have talked me into it.”
She hadn’t, but there was no need for Curtis to know that.
“She’s way out of your league,” Curtis said, and Julian shot a glare in his direction. “Just stating the obvious. We’ve been here for months. If he hasn’t made a move by now, it’s not going to happen.”
Isaac chuckled. “Struck out again, I see.”
Julian grinned. “You’re just mad because she sees right through you.”
Curtis shrugged. “It’s just a matter of time, boys,” he said and looked at Isaac. “At least I’ll get to keep trying.”
“I don’t know,” Julian said and pressed his lips together, considering. “Isaac’s been studying pretty hard. I think he’s going to get in.”
“And if he doesn’t, he can always fall back on his family connections,” Curtis replied.
Isaac frowned. “What family connections?”
A smirk touched his mouth, and he arched an eyebrow in amusement. “Seriously?”
Isaac knew he should walk away, but he wanted to knock that self-assured smirk right off Curtis’s face. It would feel great for a second or two, maybe even a few minutes, but it would be a mistake—a mistake he couldn’t afford to make.
Don’t do it, Isaac, he thought to himself.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Julian asked. He was almost done shaving.
“His family is friends with quite a few influential people. I’m sure they could get Isaac into whatever program he wanted.”
Isaac scowled and felt the heat rush to his face.
Julian shook his head. “So what?”
“So, it means he gets to play by different rules than the rest of us. It doesn’t matter whether he’s qualified or not.”
“That’s crap,” Julian said, scowling. “It’s not a popularity contest. You get the scores, make the grade, and they measure your performance against everyone else that applies for that cohort. It doesn’t matter who anyone knows.”
“Believe whatever you want,” Curtis said and glared at Isaac before turning his attention back to his own morning routine.
Isaac shook his head and began packing his stuff. Curtis was still trying to get a rise out of him, but he wasn’t going to let him. If he denied the accusation, he’d validate the argument. He glanced at Curtis while he primped in front of the mirror.
When Isaac started to walk out of the bathroom, Curtis snorted loudly. Isaac gritted his teeth, whirled around, and stormed up to him. Curtis reared back with a hungry gleam in his eyes.
Isaac snarled, getting right into Curtis’s face. “Nothing has ever been handed to me.”
Curtis shoved him back and his eyes went wide when Isaac pulled him off-balance and used his own momentum, guiding him toward the wall. Isaac had the momentary satisfaction of seeing the complete shock on Curtis’s face as it became red with anger.
“Go ahead,” Isaac invited. “Put your hands on me again.”
Julian stepped between them. “All right, that’s enough!”
Isaac watched Curtis, hoping he’d come at him so he could deliver the beating he deserved. Curtis had been pushing Isaac’s buttons since before they’d come to the embassy.
“Seriously,” Julian said. “I’ll report the both of you and you’ll get tossed out of the program. I don’t want to have to do it, but I will. Isaac, you’re done in here, right? Go on, get out of here.”
Isaac needed to be in Shetrian because of his probation as an extension of his internship. He was so close to finishing that for it to come apart now would be beyond foolhardy.
He stepped back toward the door, and Curtis smiled at him, delivering a promise. They weren’t finished. Isaac returned the smile in kind and left the bathroom.
A short while later, Julian walked into the room they shared. He paused in the doorway and said, “Do you think Curtis spends all his time just thinking of the stupidest things to say?”
“He probably has a checklist of them to get through on any given day,” Isaac replied.
Julian laughed. “You can’t let him get to you.”
“I know,” Isaac replied and gave Julian a sidelong glance. “I know.”
“I doubt he’s gonna report what happened.”
Isaac smiled with one side of his mouth. “He won’t. It was self-defense.”
He knew enough about the law to determine that he shouldn’t get into any trouble, but with his record, it would be a very thin margin.
Julian pressed his lips together and nodded. Crossing the room, he opened the metallic storage container where his clothes were kept and proceeded doing the sniff test on several garments. He pulled on a shirt and then gave his underarms a sniff, shrugging. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask if you could put in a good word for my cousin. He’s applying to the CDF corps of engineers. You do have family connections, right? Can you help me out here?”
A laugh bubbled from Isaac’s mouth. “I’ll get right on it.”
The idea of using any family connections to get into the medical program in Sierra was absurd. He’d never even thought about it, but he did wonder if others thought that way. Just because Curtis didn’t like him didn’t mean he was wrong.
Isaac shook his head. He couldn’t control what other people thought.
They left the dormitory and headed to the cafeteria. The colonial embassy housed everything the residents needed in one convenient location. They’d hardly left the embassy grounds for the first few weeks while they went through training that educated them on Mekaal customs to help them fit in better while they were living in Shetrian. Since those first few weeks, Isaac had gotten to explore the city many times.
